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Spotlight on... awareness weeks

Awareness weeks guide

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Spotlight on... awareness days, weeks and months

Featuring the latest research on key areas of health and wellbeing, our Spotlight on... series focuses on the awareness weeks, days and months that occur throughout the year.

Stay up-to-date on important health topics and explore the variety of resources available to support your work.

International Migrants Day

International Migrants Day

18 December 2024

On 4 December 2000, the General Assembly, taking into account the large and increasing number of migrants in the world, proclaimed 18 December International Migrants Day. The International Migrants Day theme for 2024 is: Honouring the Contributions of Migrants and Respecting their Rights. WHO

 

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Cochrane Library

Online resources

Reports

Articles

Access to health care and information

Mental health

Research

E-books

E-journals

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Articles

Access to health care and information

Linguistic diversity and emergency health alerts: A systematic critical review
Analysis of the studies suggests that public health authorities could benefit from working more collaboratively with community organisations to establish communication strategies that are timely, trustworthy, efficient and capable of cultural and linguistic nuance in public health emergencies. Australian journal of social issues 22 April 2024

Health literacy and diabetes information preferences among Chinese immigrants: An Australian cross-sectional study
There is a clear need for co-designed diabetes patient education materials that meet the needs and adequately reach Australian-Chinese immigrants. In particular, these materials must support people with limited English-language proficiency. Nursing open 14 September 2024

Exploring experiences and asthma management among Middle Eastern Arabic-speaking migrants and refugees with Asthma: A qualitative study
This research pursues a comprehensive understanding of asthma control, asthma-related experiences, perceptions, inhaler technique, and knowledge among Arabic-speaking Middle Eastern migrants and refugees living in Australia. Patient preference and adherence 26 August 2024

The role of acculturation in self-care behaviours among Chinese immigrants living with cardiovascular disease: A qualitative study
The influence of acculturation on CVD self-care behaviours among Chinese immigrants is multifaceted and individualized. Clinicians and community health workers should assess patients’ acculturation experiences to enable culturally sensitive practices. The lack of culturally and linguistically appropriate heart health information in the community should be addressed urgently to mitigate the cardiac health disparity. Collaboration with Chinese community associations offers an opportunity for co-design and dissemination of information about Australian healthcare systems and heart health education to upskill CVD self-care practices and mitigate the health inequities experienced by Chinese immigrants. Health and social care in the community 9 September 2024

Chronic diseases and their behavioural risk factors among South Asian immigrants in Australia
Fifty percent of study participants presented with preventable diseases, signifying a substantial health burden. Public health interventions should primarily focus on reducing alcohol intake and increasing fruit and vegetable consumption, particularly among individuals of advanced age, to reduce the overall burden on the healthcare system. Australian health review  2 September 2024

Are rates of clinical interventions during pregnancy and childbirth different for refugees and asylum seekers in high-income countries? A scoping review
The studies included in this review suggest that asylum seekers and refugees are less likely to receive clinical pain relief and experience instrumental delivery than non-refugee groups in high-income countries. This review strengthens the understanding of the links between immigration status and maternity care, ultimately informing policy and practice to improve perinatal health and the provision of care for all. BMC pregnancy and childbirth 12 November 2024

Migrant and refugee youth’s sexual and reproductive health and rights: A gender comparison of knowledge, behaviour, and experiences
Young adulthood is a crucial life stage, during which major sexual and reproductive health (SRH) development occurs, and gender norms are often entrenched. Australian migrant and refugee youth (MRY) have particular SRH experiences and vulnerabilities such as under-use of services, higher rates of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), unplanned pregnancy, and experiences of community and family stigma. Sexuality and culture 6 December 2024

‘The letter says I may or may not be eligible… It is a big doubt and frustrating:’ A qualitative study on barriers and facilitators to children's oral healthcare from the perspective of Karen refugee parents in Victoria
When designing tailored oral health promotion programs, all stakeholders must consider the lived experiences of refugees as valuable sources of information. Health expectations 19 November 2024

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Mental health

Migrant well-being in Australia: Does locus of control matter?
Highlights

  • The paper examines the mental health impacts and behaviours of migration resettlement in Australia, focusing on age, gender and locus of control as possible modifiers.
  • The authors found that age profiles in mental health differ significantly between migrant and native populations; the second-generation migrants generally exhibit better mental health outcomes, supporting the ‘healthy migrant paradox’.
  • These findings suggest that locus of control has a great potential to mitigate adverse mental health outcomes for immigrant populations.

Economics & human biology 23 November 2024

The relationship between the mental health of refugee parents and their children: An investigation of Australian longitudinal data
The findings highlight that non-trauma specific symptoms warrant attention in refugee parents’ and children’s mental health. Clinicians should assess for general psychological symptoms in addition to trauma-specific symptoms, and we recommend that parental mental health is assessed and treated simultaneously when working with refugee children. Journal of immigrant and minority health 22 November 2024

Investigating whether offshore immigration detention and processing are associated with an increased likelihood of psychological disorders
Immigration policies designed to deter people from seeking asylum are gaining traction in many Western nations, with the UK recently attempting to establish an offshore immigration processing centre in Rwanda. This letter outlines emerging evidence from Australia on the negative long-term psychological effects of offshore processing on people seeking asylum. British journal of psychiatry 11 November 2024

Physical and mental health of informal carers from culturally and linguistically diverse (CALD) and non-CALD groups in Australia
Empirical evidence shows that many family carers, especially immigrants, experience considerable health disadvantages and poorer quality of life. Australia has a rapidly increasing multicultural population, officially referred to as Culturally and Linguistically Diverse (CALD) people. This paper explores similarities and differences in the carer profile and physical and mental health of CALD and non-CALD family carers. Healthcare 17 October 2024

Starting conversations about mental health and wellbeing in Australian culturally and linguistically diverse communities contributions to health promotion

  • A co-produced program provided opportunities to learn skills and knowledge that could enhance mental health and wellbeing education in culturally and linguistically diverse communities.
  • Participants reported improved confidence and health literacy after being involved in a program that provided a safe, culturally appropriate space to learn.
  • Participants felt that they were empowered to develop and deliver mental health and wellbeing education in their communities after participating in this program.
  • Channels of communication both within and between communities were opened for participants in this program.

Health promotion international 13 August 2024

Gender, mental health stigma, and help-seeking in Arabic- and Swahili-speaking communities in Australia
Australia is an ethnically diverse nation with large numbers of migrants and refugees entering the country yearly. Despite research demonstrating that individuals from culturally and linguistically diverse (CaLD) communities experience an elevated risk of developing a mental illness, mental health services uptake is consistently low. To improve the mental health outcomes of these CaLD individuals in Australia, there is an urgent need to understand barriers to treatment, such as stigma. International journal of environmental research and public health 3 December 2024

Trauma, bicultural immersion, and growing into self: The impacts of media narratives on former refugees
Findings indicate that for these participants, media was stigmatizing, and negatively impacted wellbeing, confidence, and self-esteem by threatening their self-identity and presenting challenges in other areas of their life, such as work, school, and friendships. Despite this, participants’ experiences of resettlement and bicultural immersion promoted personal growth and a positive outlook for the future. This study recognizes the need to elevate Banyamulenge youth voices as a group poorly represented in research and contributes to a better understanding of how macro-level attitudes in media impact the wellbeing of ethnic minority youth in Australia. Culture and psychology 24 November 2024

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Research

Community music, identity and belonging among Dutchies in Australia: Comparing assimilation to multiculturalism
This study improves our understanding of the impact of diverse emigration and immigration resettlement policies that form part of the complexities of diverse generations and backgrounds of the Dutch-Australian diaspora. Australian journal of social issues 29 September 2024

What do we know about the experiences of belonging for [Black] Africans in Australia? A systematic scoping review
Within this systematic scoping review, critical issues of belonging are made visible, indicating that belonging for Black Africans in Australia is a highly racialised and complex cultural experience and significantly impacts their sense of self, identity, agency, citizenship and participation, social integration and inclusion. Australian journal of social issues 29 January 2024

Sticky places for regional immigrant settlement: A literature review
Through a systematic and rigorous review process, the authors identify seven interconnected factors and processes nestled amongst three core themes of sticky factors and processes that attract, enable and impede settlement and retention contributing to the growing knowledge regarding regional immigrant settlement and retention. Australian journal of social issues 20 January 2024

Internationally qualified nurses’ perspectives on transitioning specialty skills within Australia: A content analysis
This study aims to explore the barriers and facilitators involved in maximising skill utilisation among internationally qualified nurses in Australia. Identifying these barriers and facilitators is essential for improving patient care, as it will guide the development of strategies for safe nursing service delivery and the optimisation of skill usage. These findings hold significant implications for policymakers, healthcare organisations and nurses, providing valuable insights into how to address these obstacles and capitalise on the factors that make skill transfer smoother and more effective. Nursing open 9 September 2024

Motherhood penalty and labour market integration of immigrant women: A review on evidence from four OECD countries
Among several reasons preventing the effective labour market integration of immigrant women, the motherhood penalty and unpaid care responsibilities stand out prominently. In line with this, the present scoping review shows how motherhood affects the labour market integration of immigrant women in Australia, Canada, the UK, and the USA. Societies 28 August 2024

A report on the impact of immigration detention on the health and wellbeing of refugees and asylum seekers
The extended periods that some asylum seekers experience in immigration detention potentially compromise their mental health and physical well-being. This compromise is associated with the prevailing culture and conditions within some immigration detention facilities in Western countries, such as Australia, Canada and Germany.  This review aims to synthesise the findings of studies that report on the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers while they have been held in immigration detention. Ethnographic edge 28 April 2024

The prevalence of food insecurity amongst refugees and asylum seekers during, and prior to, their early resettlement period in Australia: A cross-sectional analysis of the ‘Building a New Life in Australia’ data
This study's results are an important step in understanding the scale of food insecurity (FI) and which sub-groups are most vulnerable, so the resources and policies of high-income countries can better meet food security needs during resettlement. Appetite 1 May 2024

Everyday refugee integration: A holistic reconceptualization of refugee integration through the everyday practices of Hazara Afghan refugees
Addressing public discourses that refugees are a burden, threat or cost, unable or unwilling to integrate into society, the authors argue in this article for a holistic reconceptualization of refugee integration. The article explores what is call ‘everyday refugee integration’ – that is, the ways in which refugee-background migrants participate in, contribute to and become a part of their local community socially, culturally and economically. We do so through a bottom-up approach that sharpens the lens of the ordinary to highlight the role that everyday practices of humanitarian-background migrants have in that process. This article draws on a qualitative case study of one group of humanitarian-background migrants, Hazaras from Afghanistan, across three sites: community and education centres, sports and business, in Adelaide, South Australia. Journal of sociology 14 November 2024

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E-books

This is just a sample of the e-books the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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E-Journals

This is just a sample of the journals the library subscribes to – you will need your library login

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